Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (C) with Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Fred (2L) and Manchester United's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (R) after scoring the opening penalty during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 10, 2018. Oli SCARFF / AFP

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba declared his pride at being named captain for Friday's Premier League opening 2-1 win over Leicester, but pointedly suggested he wants to be trusted more by manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho surprisingly put Pogba straight into the starting line-up and handed him the armband even though the Frenchman had just returned to training on Monday after his exertions in lifting the World Cup less than a month ago.

Pogba responded with what Mourinho described as a "monster" performance and took responsibility from the penalty spot to open the scoring after just three minutes of the season.

"Of course it makes me proud, it makes me happy to wear this (armband) at a big club like Manchester United," said Pogba.

The man who cost United a then world record £89 million (105 million euros, $116 million) in 2016 was routinely dropped by Mourinho last season, and had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent days with Barcelona's interest reportedly piqued by his frosty relationship with the Portuguese coach.